If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

Originally Posted by mainelobster69

When this whole controversy started up I was like many others, a bit disturbed at what was happening. However part of that was because Noel’s background reminded me of a few things I learned from a young friend of mine who also did gay porn. I’m usually a lurker who comes and goes, but I wanted to get some thoughts off my back, and I apologize if I'm insensitive or long-winded (which I am). By no means do I mean to grate on anyone’s nerves, these are simply my personal thoughts and you are free to disagree.

I work at an organization that provides social and legal help to the poor and indigent, many of whom are youth. A few years ago one of our clients was a young man who had done gay porn for one of the most popular “amateur” websites (you can likely guess which one, but I will not name it). We helped him on an unrelated manner and in the process I got to know him.

He went into porn for financial reasons: he came from a broken home, both parents were in jail, he was put up for adoption, suffered abuse, etc., and was easily in the lowest rung of the lower class. He was literally dirt poor. He went into it straight out of high school when he was about 18 or 19, and at first it seemed to be easy money, but it quickly became addicting and threw his life out of balance. The attention itself was very addicting: the studio kept complimenting him and he had all these people fawning over him - everyone he met seemed to be “yes” people. Financially, he was finally able to buy things that were previously way above his means, go on trips and do things he had only dreamed of. He also spent a big chunk of that money on his family, saving his adoptive parents’ home from foreclosure (it was the height of the recession at the time). All of a sudden he had attracted a new circle of friends who liked his new clothes, new possessions, etc. His new circle of friends would in time introduce him to things like drugs and a more high-spending lifestyle.

As he got more used to his new lifestyle, he found that it was hard not to live without these things. And so he continued to do more work for this studio to fund his new life. At first he did it to save money, afford his own apartment and help his family. But all the material things and new expectations kept drawing him back to do more work. Along the way, he found that most of the other young men he worked with also came from similar backgrounds: almost all were poor, many came from broken homes, some had mental health or substance abuse issues. There were normal guys, some of whom were not poor, but they seemed to be a minority. Some guys really liked the work and had no problems. He genuinely liked many of the guys he worked with, but he said most of them had personal issues they grappled with, most often alone.

The studio? So long as those issues didn’t interfere with making porn, they just did not care. They just burned through new young men arriving every bit as desperate or na´ve as he was. He told me once that he took a while to get an enema, and the crew became angry and annoyed with him. Another time they were annoyed that a new guy was too shy and complained about pain. I suppose when you work for a studio like that, after time you begin to see things like getting fucked as “normal.” As he became more addicted to the money, to get more work, the studio requested that he do more and more in his scenes. He said it indeed became “normal” to him. Sometimes he said he thought the crew got a kick and laughs out of making him do unusual things.

After around 2-3 years of doing this on and off, at around 21 or 22 years old, he began to wonder if the studio really cared about his wellbeing, and realized he was far too dependent on this. By this time he wasn’t doing it for his original reasons, he was doing it more to maintain the material things and friends he had become accustomed to, and which he now found was hard to live without. By this time he wasn’t being asked back to do work as often, and other studios began to ask him to do work for them (he declined, but had no idea how they got his contact info).

When I first met him he had just gone into the work, but when he came back for help, he had slowly begun to stop. While he was very bitter he really just blamed himself. He saw other guys lose themselves, get addicted to drugs, cancel their plans for school, forget their long term goals, etc. However he said he never imagined it would have happened to him, at around 22 years old. Afterwards, he was still poor.

The porn followed him wherever he went. Everyone found out, and although he didn’t lose the support of his family or most of his friends, it was difficult for them to accept. Being exposed like that comes with a lot of issues. For one thing, a lot of people tried to contact him; complete strangers, many of whom were nice, but some of whom were very intrusive and downright vindictive. Strangers found his real name and background and posted his details online. People impersonated him on social media sites. Anonymous people forwarded his adult work to his family and friends. One time someone sent the stuff to his boss, costing him his job. For most of the other young men he worked with and kept in touch with, things mostly worked out fine, although each faced similar problems here and there. In many ways people who do this kind of work are very vulnerable to personal attacks. He said it took time and many mistakes to make him to realize that the wealth was temporary but the repercussions were long lasting. The sad thing he realized was that it never made him wealthy to begin with.

I could go on with more details but I think I’d bore people.

When I read about Noel, I couldn’t help but think about this young man I met a few years ago. In a way, I’m glad that he’s unlikely to continue doing more work (yes some of you may consider me a Grinch). Am I under any illusions that things in porn could be more positive? Not really, what do you really expect from a business model that churns out young men as a volume product? The studios don’t usually employ them as normal salaried employees; they don’t develop long term relationships like normal businesses. They only see these models on a few occasions and cycle through hundreds of bodies a year. The young men are a product, an image and a creation to them, not a person.

I feel a lot of sympathy for Noel but aside from being a high school kid who was nearly expelled, I’m not sure his background and story is all that unique.

It does make me wonder though, what do people think of the young men who do this work? Sometimes I read through these blogs and posts and see comments like, “I don’t think of them as people, just meat.” If you had asked me years ago if I ever gave much thought into who these young men are, I’d have honestly said no. But while I do enjoy porn like everyone here, I can’t help but to at least care on some level.

In any case reading about Noel’s case made me think about the other stuff I heard from this friend. It’s a business, there will always be a demand, it will go on. However, I’m happy that he was able to go back to school, but like I said, a part of me is glad he likely won’t be depending on this work in the future.

Honestly, as stupid as it sounds, I had hoped that Sean Cody would have done something positive to help Noel. But having just looked at their site, and now seeing how they placed that picture of him smack dab on their front page to take advantage of the controversy with Noel’s problems, I guess I shouldn’t expect that a porn studio would care about their models. It’s a business after all, and they view these young men are merely a product.

Well said! My view on this and young guys in porn is a bit different than many on here. Having parents who were high school teachers and parents who cared, I cannot help but point fingers at the parents and their lack of parenting. It too bad that the porn industry only uses these guy for their looks while they earn $$$$$ and do not give a damn what happens to them.

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

I don't recall what has been said about Randy's sexuality, but just seeing him go naturally into a sweet kiss from his last situp does it for me. Doesn't look scripted or that he had to stop to think to do it, just adorable and natural. Great kisser, good at giving head, flip fucking -- what's not to love?

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

Originally Posted by jasoncrew03

From what I can remember, the going rate for a bottoming scene for SC was between 4-5k.

As per an interview in some Indianapolis gay paper, Rylan was paid $40,000 for a total of 9 scenes, including his solo. I recall seeing an ad on Craigslist for Cody Media offering $1500 for a solo. Both of these date from before the big Recession. Suffice it to say the market has changed considerably: fewer customers and more guys willing to work for less. I would be surprised if the current models were being paid half that rate.

Even without a recession I think the model market would have corrected itself to a degree. When you have regular (albeit gorgeous) dude-bro types doing gay porn and still holding onto their straight identity, other guys decide to hold their noses and go for the easy money. Corbin Cody and College Chaos act like Guy Grand, The Magic Christian, in this regard: everybody has their price. This would also account for the sadistic turn described by Mainelobster69 (above) that producers take with models who have become addicted to the easy money. As Sir Guy says "Sometimes, Youngman, we have to be cruel, too!"

There was a rumor that Corbin Fisher's TJ got something like a $10,000 bonus over and above his comp per scene. I'm sure that doesn't happen anymore, even if a model is as stunning as TJ.

There's also a differential in the comp from model to model. Recently CF's (incredibly hot) 'Kellan' had a live show bitch session where he whined about being locked into a contract and not getting paid as much as some of the other models (a real injustice, if true). Also there's the dirty laundry aspect: Rylan's comp notwithstanding, these sites are notorious for lowballing gay models, on the premise that they enjoy the work.

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

Phunkspunk,you are sadly right about what I've heard actual gay models getting paid for their work. And it's basically based off your theory,if they're bi or gay,they enjoy it for free and don't need as much.

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

The absence of ink notwithstanding I get a real 'military' vibe from 'Porter', which means he might be up for anything. So many of the recent (past 3 years) SC models have been former military. They're taking advantage of all those Leathernecks running around SD.

If I could do my life over again, I'd seriously consider the Marines. It sounds like they have a lot of fun

Can someone give a link to the Abe comment? Granted it may be on one of the 'unmentionable' sites. In that case, just use initials.

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

Originally Posted by PhunkSpunk

The absence of ink notwithstanding I get a real 'military' vibe from 'Porter', which means he might be up for anything. So many of the recent (past 3 years) SC models have been former military. They're taking advantage of all those Leathernecks running around SD.

If I could do my life over again, I'd seriously consider the Marines. It sounds like they have a lot of fun

Can someone give a link to the Abe comment? Granted it may be on one of the 'unmentionable' sites. In that case, just use initials.

Watching Dirk Yates and Active Duty videos over the years,I get the feeling for them it's anything goes or they're willing to try anything once.

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

Originally Posted by sammyyummy

Missin Abe. didnt know about the hotel thing mentioned here

I'm hoping the hotel incident is just speculation and they are just spreading out the Abe updates. But I'm also glad to see Cameron return. I love him but he's no Abe. He's going to have to expand his repertoire to keep our interest.

SC caps their models in the 20s. I suppose they don't want to seem like CF, but I don't think there'd be any complaints with more Calvin & Jamie

I like Harry with his lean/cut ripped physique! Also love his clipped chest-hair. Great look, imho. Also provides great texture. His cock is gorgeous, too. Great definition of the head against the shaft.

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

@dozyk74 Yes he did get married sorry Macgruff.

@PhunkSpunk I heard that about the hotel stuff from the guys at the WB blog during a past recnt solo or action video when the guys were talking about the performers of the videos and what not and before "STUGATE" where somebody was posting his personal info hence the turning off of the comments during solos and action videos. Although I cansee why they would turn the comments off on Harry unless someone was/is up to their ole trick again of posting PI.

- - - Updated - - -

@dozyk74 Yes he did get married sorry Macgruff.

@PhunkSpunk I heard that about the hotel stuff from the guys at the WB blog during a past recnt solo or action video when the guys were talking about the performers of the videos and what not and before "STUGATE" where somebody was posting his personal info hence the turning off of the comments during solos and action videos. Although I cansee why they would turn the comments off on Harry unless someone was/is up to their ole trick again of posting PI.

SC caps their models in the 20s. I suppose they don't want to seem like CF, but I don't think there'd be any complaints with more Calvin & Jamie

I like Harry with his lean/cut ripped physique! Also love his clipped chest-hair. Great look, imho. Also provides great texture. His cock is gorgeous, too. Great definition of the head against the shaft.

Def. agree with you PHunkSpunk about Calvin and Jamie ,but I would also add :drrol: Ashton to that list only 7 movies and then he vanishes whats up with that?

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

I loved the 'concerned' look Calvin would get when he was fucking.

Ashton, the Gentle Giant. I loved that he was an ex-marine and openly bisexual. He made love to his partners. Grant -- wouldn't be surprised if they were married. Such a gentle, simple guy. His voice was so sexy! Apparently he rents. Wish he'd come back.

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

I think the Noel episode may give the guys still in HS pause. There's been a few CF models who first shot at CF while in HS and I never heard of any push-back that hit the internet anyway. Lucas, one of CF's all time superstars started his career while still in HS. I know that one very popular and well known model that started with a now defunct site was still in HS at his start and his porn work became well known by the other students. I don't that experience, however, gave him any grief with the school's administration. I just hope Noel maintains a "fuck you" attitude with his detractors and if he enjoys the work, I hope he returns to SC. I sure "enjoy" seeing him. And with that body, every other guy in that HS has to be damn envious.

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

Originally Posted by Ninja108

Was going through the old Sean Cody videos, I miss people like Dylan,Zack,Freddy,Kenny,Patrick etc.

Kenny was one of my favourite SC models ever. And back in the day, they didn't force the models into positions that only circus acrobats could achieve. So when Kenny was on the receiving end, he spent a lot of those scenes lying face down on the bed (or rug in the living room, like his scene with Patrick), and gosh, it was hot.

Re: Sean Cody Update - 2014 edition

Yes, ADAM is back HOPEFFULLY for awhile and with Jordan whom is up to his 20th or so film so probably won't be seeing him anymore.

@ML PREACH ABOUT THE JEALOUS QUEENS PREACH AMEN HERE AMEN

Off topic I don't know if anyone caught the Corbie episode of TAHOE with Kellan & Quinn but did anyone else notice how LUXE the surroundings were compared to the Sean Cody guys when they went? I paid attention to the SEX TOO.

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, ADAM is back HOPEFFULLY for awhile and with Jordan whom is up to his 20th or so film so probably won't be seeing him anymore.

@ML PREACH ABOUT THE JEALOUS QUEENS PREACH AMEN HERE AMEN

Off topic I don't know if anyone caught the Corbie episode of TAHOE with Kellan & Quinn but did anyone else notice how LUXE the surroundings were compared to the Sean Cody guys when they went? I paid attention to the SEX TOO.